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Rapha Cent Cols: The Alps

By Joe Hall • 15th September 2010 11:11am • Posted in Rides

WORDS: Phil Deeker

Stage one of the Rapha CCC Alps ridden by all. Some fast riders at front, setting a fierce pace. Interesting to see if they are still this competitive in eight days time. Some stragglers at the back, but they should be able to ‘get round’… Some have already gone into survival mode. Could be a long ride…

Only 150km but still made 3,900m of climbing. All agreed a tough enough one to open the event. ALL will remember the Col de Plan Bois – a typical Cent Cols climb that no one knew about before today. At just 6 km long, it rarely dips under 10% and the last ramp found me tugging on the bars. Looked down at Garmin to see 20% dropping to 18%. So that was why…

Lunch at the top at the superb Auberge du Plan Bois, sitting outside in the sun with a mountain vista all around and a plate full of Alpine hams and cheeses put a bit of life back into riders’ veins.

Our oldest rider, at 75, found it a wee bit hard and has confessed that maybe he has bitten off more than he can chew, will use the broomwagon quite frequently. But so would I at that age!

Galibier & Glandon headlining acts tomorrow and weather looks good. An epic stage, but reduced to 4,600m of UP from the original 6,100m of last year – had a snowstorm not caused the stage to be called off at Valloire.

Comments

david ward

17th September 2010 02:00pm

Phil
sounds abreeze compared to last year!
How's our team pill captain doing?
Started training for next years rides
all the best
dave ward

Alicia Cowan

18th September 2010 09:59am

More news from the Cent Cols Challenge - Matt is riding and posting daily updates from his iPhone. You can read more here: http://mattcowancentcols.posterous.com/

And, Phil - he's having the time of his life. Looking forward to meeting you in Annecy.

Alicia

philip deeker

19th September 2010 10:33pm

dave : Big Mark riding strong. i had to tow him a bit on the first week, but looks like he's found some legs now. he rode in 'the break' today… and kept up! the guys are all shaping up well for the Big Stage 8.
alicia : matt still looking good (well, he should with 10 sets of kit in his case!) . he wore a fetching Katusha/italian set today. rode well too! he's a good influence in le peloton (and il grupetto. if his bike agrees, his body will get him to annecy still smiling. see you there.

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